The Health Blogosphere: What It Means for Policy Debates and Journalism (16 July, 2008)

Kaiser Alert
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Health Blogosphere: What It Means for Policy Debates and Journalism

RSVP
rsvp [AT] kff.org
contactS
Rakesh Singh
(202) 654-1313

Tiffany Ford
(202) 347-5270
tford@kff.org

On Tuesday, July 29, the Kaiser Family Foundation is sponsoring a discussion about the growing influence of blogs on health news and policy debates. Only in the past few years has the blogosphere become mainstream. In the health policy arena, we now see policymakers, journalists, researchers and interest groups utilizing this new media tool to deliver information to their audiences.

The briefing will highlight how the traditional health policy world has embraced blogging and will feature a keynote address by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, the first cabinet officer to author an official blog, followed by a moderated discussion with a variety of health policy bloggers and a media analyst. Questions to be explored with the panelists include: Why do individuals and organizations blog? How does blogging impact the broader work of an organization? Are there different standards used when blogging versus other writing? Have blogs impacted the news business significantly? What kind of influence are blogs having on political and policy debates?

Welcome and Introduction

Drew Altman, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Kaiser Family Foundation

Keynote Address

The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt
Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Panel Discussion

Vicky Rideout (moderator)
Vice President, Kaiser Family Foundation and
Director, Kaiser Forum on Health Journalism and the News Business

Jacob Goldstein, Wall Street Journal

Michael Cannon, Cato Institute

Ezra Klein, American Prospect Magazine

John McDonough, Office of Senator Edward Kennedy and formerly of Health Care for All in Massachusetts

Tom Rosenstiel, Center for Excellence in Journalism

WHEN: Tuesday, July 29, lunch served at 12:30 p.m. and program begins at 1:00 p.m.
Add this event to your Outlook Calendar (Please note that all times are ET).

WHERE: Barabara Jordan Conference Center, 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC. For those who cannot attend, the event will be webcast live.

RSVP: If you plan to attend the event, please send your name and affiliation to rsvp@kff.org.

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